Ten common Nottinghamshire moths by month
September
 
     
September sees the start of a decline in both the number of species and number of actual moths on the wing. It also marks the transition of Summer into Autumn and while the range of species begins to show signs of decline, the new moths appearing often take on a more colourful note.

A selection of orange, yellow and pink coloured Sallows start flying and often arrive to MV light in numbers at woodland sites, but they do occur in suburban areas.

 
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September is also the month when a watch should be kept for suitable weather conditions, condusive to migrant moths reaching the UK. Peak numbers of Hummingbird Hawk-moth and Silver Y, which arrived earlier in the Summer, will be found nectaring at the flowers of Valerian as they start to return south.

Below are the ten species most likely to be seen in Nottinghamshire during the month, followed by just some of the species which can also be expected.

     
45.044 .... B&F 1524 .... Emmelina monodactyla (Linnaeus, 1758)
Status .....Common throughout much of Nottinghamshire, where it is regularly found by day resting on fences. Uncommon around the Sherwood Forest NNR.
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70.095 .... B&F 1760 .... Red-green Carpet Chloroclysta siterata (Hufnagel, 1767)
Status .....Generally quite a common moth at many sites. Away from the Trent Valley, Red-green Carpet is much more numerous and readily attracted to MV light.
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70.097 .... B&F 1764 .... Common Marbled Carpet Dysstroma truncata (Hufnagel, 1767) ....... Formerly known as Chloroclysta truncata
Status .....An often very common moth, which often shows considerable variation in markings and colouration. Seems to be either totally absent or scarce, south-east of the River Trent.
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70.234 .... B&F 1913 .... Canary-shouldered Thorn Ennomos alniaria (Linnaeus, 1758)
Status ..... Frequent at MV light traps operated within the Sherwood Forest area and also common around the Idle Valley NR. There are scattered records from sites around most areas of Nottinghamshire.
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73.107 .... B&F 2300 .... Old Lady Mormo maura (Linnaeus, 1758)
Status .....This large and distinctive moth, is often a regular visitor to MV light traps operated in urban areas. In Nottinghamshire, the majority of records come from the south of the county and it seems uncommon north of Mansfield.
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73.181 .... B&F 2273 .... Pink-barred Sallow Xanthia togata (Esper, 1788)
Status .....Most of the Sallow moths (Xanthia, or formerly Xanthia species) are common in Nottinghamshire and with much the same range as each other. All seem to be commoner in woodlands north-east of Mansfield. Frequently recorded from the Idle Valley NR.
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73.182 .... B&F 2274 .... Sallow Cirrhia icteritia (Hufnagel, 1766) .... Formerly known as Xanthia icteritia
Status .....Fairly regular to MV at Sherwood Forest and the Idle Valley NR. Most of the Sallow moths (Xanthia, or formerly Xanthia species) are common in Nottinghamshire and with much the same range as each other. All seem to be commoner in woodlands north-east of Mansfield.
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73.190 .... B&F 2264 .... Yellow-line Quaker Agrochola macilenta (Hübner, 1809)
Status .....Common over most of north Nottinghamshire, but this moth seems to be surprisingly absent where it may be expected to occur.
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73.219 .... B&F 2269 .... Centre-barred Sallow Atethmia centrago (Haworth, 1809)
Status .....Often regular at MV light. A less common moth at Sherwood Forest than at Eakring, usually preferring more mixed woodland when it can occur at light traps in good numbers. There seem to be few records from the south-east of Nottinghamshire.
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73.233 .... B&F 2232 .... Black Rustic Aporophyla nigra (Haworth, 1809)
Status .....Possibly quite common, but there seems to be a distinctly westerly-bias to Nottinghamshire records.
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Can't find your moth? Some other moths often recorded at MV light during September
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The following moths are also likely to occur during the month, although some may be more habitat specific and less likely to be recorded from suburban gardens.
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17.010 Ypsolopha parenthesella

17.012 Ypsolopha sequella

18.001 Plutella xylostella

20.012 Argyresthia goedartella

       

28.009 Endrosis sarcitrella

28.010 Hofmannophila pseudospretella

32.017 Agonopterix arenella

32.018 Agonopterix heracliana

       

32.031 Agonopterix alstromeriana

41.002 Blastobasis adustella

49.024 Pandemis corylana

49.039 Epiphyas postvittana

       

49.071 Acleris emargana

49.070 Acleris rhombana

49.077 Acleris variegana

49.150 Apotomis betuletana

       

49.249 Epinotia ramella

49.255 Epinotia nisella

62.075 Hypsopygia costalis

63.038 Pleuroptya ruralis

       

63.115 Acentria ephemerella

65.007 Chinese Character

70.036 Maiden's Blush

70.049 Garden Carpet

       

70.077 Pine Carpet

70.081 Grey Pine Carpet

70.100 Green Carpet

70.258 Willow Beauty

       

72.002 Straw Dot

72.003 Snout

73.095 Pale Mottled Willow

73.099 Vine's Rustic

       

73.131 Flounced Rustic

73.189 Red-line Quaker

73.192 Brick

73.193 Lunar Underwing

       

73.202 Grey Shoulder-knot

73.211 Angle-striped Sallow

73.225 Brindled Green

73.254 Antler Moth

       

73.274 Cabbage Moth

73.291 Common Wainscot

73.317 Heart and Dart

73.327 Dark Sword-grass

       

73.328 Flame

73.329 Flame Shoulder

73.342 Large Yellow Underwing

73.345 Lesser Yellow Underwing

       

73.357 Square-spot Rustic

73.359 Setaceous Hebrew Characte

   
       
Common moths often recorded during the day
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The following moths are often encountered during daylight hours. September offers the best month for seeing Hummingbird Hawk-moths in favourable years, which are greatly attracted to the flowers of Valerian, which will also attract numbers of Silver Y at dusk.
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48.001 Anthophila fabriciana

45.010 Amblyptilia acanthadactyla

69.010 Hummingbird Hawk-moth

72.017 Vapourer

       

73.015 Silver Y

     
       
 
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